1st Advantage MortgageThe median Franklin County household earns $60,195, and 12% of residents live below the poverty line. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Franklin County by the numbers
- Paychecks and income spread in Franklin County
- Employment and commuting in Franklin County
- Franklin County housing compared with Nebraska
- The counties around Franklin County
- Places inside Franklin County
- Debt-to-income at Franklin County's medians
- What the numbers mean for Franklin County borrowers
- More Franklin County figures
- Nebraska rules that apply in Franklin County
- Before you sign
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Franklin County by the numbers
Franklin County is home to about 2,846 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 68th most populous of 93 county-level areas in Nebraska. It covers 576 square miles of land, or about 5 people per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Franklin County is not part of any metropolitan area. Of the 7 Census places inside Franklin County, Franklin leads by population with about 946; 7 of the 7 are incorporated. With so few households sampled, Franklin County estimates can move a lot between releases.
Paychecks and income spread in Franklin County
Half of Franklin County households take in less than $60,195 a year and half take in more, 21% below the Nebraska median of $76,475.
| Income band | Share in Franklin County | Difference from Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 26.2% | +5.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.7% | +4.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 21.4% | -6.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.6% | -3.8 pts |
The spread is wide: 27% of Franklin County households make $100,000 or more, and 26% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 12.3%, 2 points higher than the state's 10.6%. For a borrower in Franklin County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
Employment and commuting in Franklin County
By the Census industry count, 24% of employed Franklin County residents work in education and health care and 22% in agriculture, forestry and mining. Compared with Nebraska, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (22% against 4%). Averaged over the five survey years, 2.7% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are the exception here: 12% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 2.1% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Where residents work | Franklin County | Difference from Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.2% | -0.2 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 21.6% | +17.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.4% | -0.2 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.5% | +2.5 pts |
| Construction | 7.2% | +0.1 pts |
| Manufacturing | 6.2% | -4.2 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Franklin County housing compared with Nebraska
Renters in Franklin County pay a median of $691 a month, 36% below the Nebraska figure of $1,072. 31% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 26% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $95,600, about 1.6 times the median household income. Owners occupy 83% of homes.
| Cost | Franklin County | Nebraska figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $691/mo | $1,072/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $95,600 | $238,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 83% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 31% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 20% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 4.6% | 2.9% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 16% | 8% | n/a |
Because most Franklin County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
The counties around Franklin County
Kearney County is closest, 23 miles from center to center; the sixth, Adams County, is 34 miles off. Income ranges from $59,135 in Smith County to $78,631 in Kearney County; 5 of these neighbors top Franklin County's median. The list crosses into Kansas, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin County | - | $60,195 | $691/mo | 83% |
| Kearney County, NE | 23 mi | $78,631 | $857/mo | 77% |
| Harlan County, NE | 23 mi | $70,625 | $657/mo | 86% |
| Webster County, NE | 24 mi | $64,347 | $647/mo | 81% |
| Smith County, KS | 29 mi | $59,135 | $635/mo | 85% |
| Phelps County, NE | 33 mi | $68,919 | $815/mo | 68% |
| Adams County, NE | 34 mi | $68,365 | $857/mo | 70% |
Places inside Franklin County
7 Census places fall mainly inside Franklin County; the 7 biggest are below. They account for 2,118 residents, leaving about 26% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. This guide covers each of the 7 places and the rural areas around them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin | city | 946 | $53,375 | $791 | 6 mi |
| Hildreth | village | 480 | $59,643 | $698 | 12 mi |
| Campbell | village | 268 | $80,625 | $938 | 14 mi |
| Upland | village | 118 | $63,750 | n/a | 10 mi |
| Bloomington | village | 112 | $78,571 | n/a | 7 mi |
| Riverton | village | 106 | $44,519 | $910 | 12 mi |
| Naponee | village | 88 | $57,500 | n/a | 12 mi |
Debt-to-income at Franklin County's medians
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Franklin County's medians:
- Monthly gross at the median, Franklin County: $5,016
- Median rent: $691, or 14 cents of every gross dollar
- $1,466: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
If your rent is above $691, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
What the numbers mean for Franklin County borrowers
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Franklin County borrowers.
- Fixed incomes. Franklin County's median age is 49.0. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
More Franklin County figures
College graduates make up 21% of the adult population. About 4% go without health insurance.
| Indicator | Franklin County | All of Nebraska | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.0 | 37.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 21.3% | 34.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.3% | 7.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.4% | 7.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 2.1% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 4.3% | 11.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.3% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.7% | 3.0% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Franklin County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 49.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 21.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 17.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.1% |
| 60+ min | 4.6% |
Nebraska rules that apply in Franklin County
The Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance is the place to verify any lender's Nebraska license. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. Statewide data and rules: Nebraska guide.
Before you sign
Before you apply, wherever you live in Franklin County:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Nebraska borrowers.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Nebraska guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Franklin County earn?
The median is $60,195; 27% earn $100,000 or more and 26% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
What do renters pay in Franklin County?
$691 a month at the median, about 14% of median household income.
I own my home in Franklin County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 83% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
I live in a small Franklin County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Franklin, Hildreth, Campbell, Upland, Bloomington and 2 more.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Franklin County or elsewhere in Nebraska, the same rules apply.